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POLITICO 44

New York Gov. David Paterson announced today that he is dropping his campaign for election to a full term amid an uproar over news that he and the State Police intervened in a domestic violence case involving a close aide.

After offering a defense of his record over his nearly two-year term, Paterson said that while he had looked forward to a full four-year term, “I am being realistic about politics.”

“It hasn’t been the latest distraction,” Paterson said in a packed press conference in his office in Albany, “it has been an accumulation of obstacles that have obfuscated me from bringing my message to the public. Therefore, there are times in politics when you have to know not to strive for service but to step back, and that moment has come for me.”

Paterson also said he welcomed an investigation into the allegations that have led to his decision to abandon his campaign. "I am looking forward to a full investigation into the actions taken by myself and this administration,” he said. “But I give you this personal oath. I have never abused my office. Not now. Not ever. And I believe when the facts are revealed, the truth will prevail.”

Paterson also signaled that he had no plans to resign.

“Now let me make this clear: There are 308 days left in my term. I will serve every one of them fighting for the people of New York," he said.

New York Democrats turned swiftly on the governor after the New York Times published a report Wednesday raising questions about possible attempts by Paterson to protect his aide, David Johnson, from battery charges.

On Thursday, Long Island Rep. Steve Israel reportedly called Paterson to urge him to forgo running for a full term, and State Sen. Bill Perkins, who took Paterson's seat in the state Legislature, told POLITICO the governor should drop his 2010 campaign right away. Also Thursday, Paterson’s top criminal justice aide, Denise O’Donnell, announced that she was departing the administration, calling the allegations against the governor “very serious.”

On Friday, New York City Comptroller John Liu joined Westchester Rep. Nita Lowey in calling on the governor to resign.

Asked what finally forced Paterson's hand, a senior Democrat close to the White House said, "In the end he was rebuffed everywhere he turned for support."

Paterson's decision opens the door for state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to launch his long-expected bid for governor. On the Republican side, former Rep. Rick Lazio has already announced plans to run.

"This is another sad chapter in New York State government. It's dysfunctional, it's broken and it doesn't work,” Lazio said in a statement Friday. “It's exactly why we need someone not tied to the Albany culture to bring the sweeping change we deserve."

Readers' Comments (104)

Another corrupt Democrat? What's new? Charlie Rangel, Paterson, and the 15 more still under investigation from the Congressional ethics committee. This Party is now the Party of Thugs. And they are to be trusted with socialized expanded HC that costs a trillion along with Obama's PHARMA deal for a million bucks. Hey McCain, ask Obama 1 more time about it.

For too long David Paterson has used his office, whether it be as head of the Senate Minority, Lt. Governor or as Governor, as an employment agency for his unqualified friends, associates, and gal pals – David Johnson, Clemmie Harris, Michael Jones-Bey, Gabrielle Turner, Indira Noel….

There is any evidence that Paterson interfered with a criminal investigation in Johnson case?

This is unfortunate. We don't need political dynasties in New York. Hopefully somebody other than Lazio runs on the GOP side. Unfortunately, I'm not sure an "Anybody but Cuomo" campaign would resonate as well as it should.

Paterson got a raw deal from the NY Democrats. He's no worse than Charlie Rangel. Plus, he isn't the reason for the budget mess. The legislature, which wants to pretend they can keep taxing and spending like they have been for 30 years, is the problem. However, it's easier for the Democratic leadership to pin it on Paterson than themselves. King Andrew awaits his coronation now.

Another Dem bites the dust....................Whose next ? Hopefully, Rangel, Reid, Pelosi, Boxer, Obama ,etc. It's starting to appear that all we have to do is sit back and watch them destroy themselves and not do a thing until November. Things are really starting to look up.

This is not a defense of Paterson, but why is it that the NY Obama Times manages to cover this particular scandal, but they totally had no idea that John Dirtbag Edwards was cheating on his dying, cancer-stricken wife? No wonder that paper is going bankrupt. They went after Paterson because they want to help Obama and the Democratic Party. They ignored John Edwards' scandal because they knew if he dropped out of the race, it would help Hillary Clinton, their Messiah's opponent. And they fabricated a story about John McCain having an affair because - you guessed it - they thought a McCain scandal would help Obama win. What a worthless rag.

Everyone in New York knows that the Democrats threw Paterson under the bus to make way for Cuomo. And apparently the New York Times was all too eager to aid this effort, which is sinking to a new journalistic low even for them. New Yorkers aren't stupid and although Cuomo is popular, I think he is going to lose a lot of Democratic votes to Rick Lazio because of the way this has been handled.

He should have heeded the advise of the White House, instead Gov Patterson tried at every turn to swim against the tide, he wrecked the good name of Caroline Kennedy, now every Dem must turn their backs to him. We Dems are not at all like the Republicans, we do not abide scandal and corruption, look at Gov Stanford in Standford in South Caroline, he about to put his party through a mess divorce that will be on TV for all to see.